They misrepresented the tens of thousands of outstanding supporters who follow the team home and away

Joint-Chairmen of West Ham, David Sullivan and David Gold

Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold have pleaded for the Hammers supporters to be on their best behaviour after last week’s defeat at Tottenham was marred by anti-Semitic chanting.

Matches between West Ham and Chelsea are always highly-charged encounters and the club are worried more sick chants will damage the club’s reputation further.

They said: “We were not only disappointed because they reflected badly on our club, but they misrepresented the tens of thousands of outstanding supporters who follow the team home and away.

“We have both been sent hundreds of emails and have personally spoken to a number of fans, who have all told us that they share our sentiments and are angry that the reputation of their club has been besmirched by the actions of a few mindless individuals.

“We have made it very clear over the past week that we will not tolerate any form of discriminatory behaviour and one by one we will root out those fans that do not deserve to represent this great club of ours.”